Wish-cycling: Wake County recycling stream contaminated to costly effect

Too much trash is ending up in Wake County’s recycling bins — and it’s causing problems the county says it can no longer ignore. Rising contamination is slowing down sorting lines, creating safety concerns for workers and increasing the cost of running the program. Now county officials are launching a new round of public education efforts to help residents understand what actually belongs in the bin.

“We have an increasing problem with contamination in Wake County,” said Sara Davarbakhsh, environmental education program coordinator for Wake County Solid Waste Management. 

Wake County’s contamination rate is now 14.4%, just below the 15% level that triggers fines from the material recovery facility.

Contamination occurs when items that cannot be processed through the recycling system end up in the bin. Davarbakhsh said much of the problem comes from “wish-cycling,” when residents toss in items they hope are recyclable even if they are not.

“People want something to be recyclable, so they throw it in with the hope someone can recover it,” Davarbakhsh said. “But we’re only looking for specific products and packaging items that can be turned into new things. Anything else is contamination.”

Common recycling mistakes

Plastic bags, holiday packaging and food-covered containers are among the most common problem items. Plastic bags can jam equipment, while food residue can spoil paper and cardboard. Other materials, such as pressurized cans or broken household glass, create hazards for workers.

“Staff are coming into contact with everything that gets put in,” Davarbakhsh said. “Items like aerosols can explode, and sharp objects can injure people. We also see food waste spread through recyclables, and that attracts vermin.”

Davarbakhsh said rinsing containers and keeping caps on plastic bottles can help keep materials clean and recoverable.

Contamination makes recycling more costly

As contamination grows, so do program costs. Fines increase once the county’s contamination rate passes the threshold set by the material recovery facility, and disposing of non-recyclable items adds additional expenses.

“It costs a lot more money to offer the program,” Davarbakhsh said. “And contamination reduces the purity of the materials we send to manufacturers.”

Davarbakhsh said she hears frequent myths suggesting recycling “just goes to the landfill,” but emphasized that Wake County’s materials are being remade into new products.

“That cannot be further from the truth,” Davarbakhsh said. “All of our recyclables are bought by local vendors and turned into products here in the U.S.”

Education events at Wake County libraries

To help residents better understand what belongs in the bin, Wake County Public Libraries are hosting free drop-in sessions called “Can I Recycle This?” Experts will answer questions, display examples of common mistakes, and offer printed guides for both curbside and convenience-center programs.

Upcoming events:

• Dec. 1, 10 a.m.–noon at East Regional Library in Knightdale
• Dec. 9, 9–11 a.m. at Holly Springs Community Library

Davarbakhsh encouraged residents to check recycling guidelines regularly, noting that accepted items may change as sorting technology improves.

“There will always be changes,” Davarbakhsh said. “We just need to stay current in our knowledge of what is and isn’t accepted.”

Zebulon resident Margaret Picone said she hopes more people take the time to learn the rules.

“I’ve been recycling for 30 years because it’s better for the planet,” Picone said. “It’s a good thing all around, so I hope people can pay attention to do it correctly so we can continue the program.”

Davarbakhsh offered a simple rule for anyone unsure about an item: “When in doubt, throw it out.”